When the Happily Ever After fireworks show in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World replaced Wishes just over a year ago, the responses were all over the map. Some were deeply saddened; others were ready for a change. But one thing was for sure: there would be fireworks.
Happily Ever After Fireworks
Lots and lots of fireworks. 😉
Happily Ever After
But what we really wanted to know was how soon could we book a Happily Ever After Dessert Party? We took you inside the party last July, and it was a tasty, colorful affair. Held on the Tomorrowland Terrace — with the less expensive option of viewing from the Plaza Garden in the Hub — the Dessert-First Happily Ever After Dessert Party is packed with eats, views, and some super friendly Cast Members.
Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert Party Check In Desk
So when Disney announced an AFTER fireworks party also to be held at Tomorrowland Terrace but occurring after the final blasts have died off, we — and our faithful DFB readers! — had some questions. In particular, we heard from several readers who wanted to know what the Plaza Garden Viewing was like now that two groups of party-goers would share the space.
In my experience, the Plaza Garden Viewing was not terribly crowded. Before the show began, most guests were sitting on the turf, relaxing. When the show began, everyone stood to watch. But when I arrived at the After Fireworks Party, there weren’t a ton of attendees. So the conditions on the ground for viewing the show likely depend a lot on how many tickets are sold to each of the parties.
But the view is as fabulous as ever!
Happily Ever After
So what sort of treats can guests of the After-Fireworks Party enjoy, late into the night? Tasty things both sugary and savory, as it turns out!
Happily Ever After AFTER Dessert Party Spread
Desserts are very similar — basically exactly the same — as they are at the pre-fireworks dessert party.
Per usual, guests can dig into Dark Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries. These are massive and everything you expect them to be. I like the added touch of the Happily Ever After logo printed on the base. The Cheesecake Brownie Bites are a delicious combination of creamy and sweet.
Chocolate Dipped Strawberries and Cheesecake
For something on the lighter (well, fruitier…) side, guests can enjoy a Pineapple Delight (basically a pineapple compote with thick whipped cream) and a Strawberry Tart.
Pineapple Delight and Strawberry Tarts
Red Velvet Cupcakes are topped with bright yellow cream cheese frosting, and Mickey smiles back from the Oreo Treats. Not gonna beat around the bush: the Oreo Treats are a little lame, but they’re sugary and chocolatey and have Mickey on them, so they’re not all bad.
Red Velvet Cupcakes and Mickey Oreo Treats
There’s lots of Fresh Fruit to enjoy. At my party it was a spread of watermelon, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, and red grapes. The Macarons are a nice touch in pistachio, lemon, raspberry, vanilla, and coffee flavors.
Fresh Fruit and Macarons
The Happily Ever After After-Fireworks Dessert Party also features some customizeable eats, including this Create Your Own Cupcake station. Select a vanilla or a chocolate cupcake, swirl on some frosting, and decorate as you wish!
Create Your Own Cupcake Station
A cast member (YAY NENE!) is on hand to help scoop up ice cream for you at the Create Your Own Sundae station.
Create Your Own Sundae Dessert Station
You’ll find Cookies, Brownies, and Krispie Treats awaiting your vanilla ice cream (or enjoy them as is!).
Cookies, Brownies, and Krispie Treats
Nene, the awesome cast member, made me her specialty brownie-cookie sundae. And I pretty much can’t get enough of the whipped cream, so this was a winner. 😉
Create Your Own Sundae
There’s also a fun S’mores on a stick treat, which combines a roasted, chocolate-dipped marshmallow (cast members are on hand to roast them for you!) with chocolate shavings, sprinkles, and graham cracker crumbs. So fun to eat!
Chocolate Dipped Marshmallows
And, you know, there’s this. It’s a colorful and delicious plate of treats. Not necessarily what one typically eats after a nighttime fireworks sesh, but when in Disney, dessert me!
One Sweet Plate!
But what am I forgetting… Oh, right — there’sooeygooeytoffeecake!!!
Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake!!!!
You didn’t catch that? THERE’S OOEY GOOEY TOFFEE CAKE, and you can eat as. much. as. you. want. (Yes, yes, that’s the same Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake that we love to love over at Liberty Tree Tavern!) And it’s as awesome as ever and the best thing I put in my mouth at the party. C’mon — IT’S OOEY. IT’S GOOEY. IT’S TOFFEE CAKE!
This version is ooier and gooier than what you get at Liberty Tree, and that, in my book, is a PLUS!
Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake Up Close and Personal!!
Ahem, yes, let’s continue. There are a few savory options at this party, two of which are a little unusual for a Disney dessert party. Cheese Cubes are not so unique, but cheese is always welcome in my book, and it’s a good option for those watching their sugar.
Cheese Cubes
Spinach Dip and Crackers is a great addition to the party — with the crackers performing double duty with the cheese if you want! And there’s tons of spinach in the dip, so it’s healthy, right? The weird thing about this, though, was that the spinach dip was super cold. I didn’t love it.
Spinach Dip and Crackers
The Taco Spring Rolls were surprisingly delicious. One of my favorites from the evening!
Taco Spring Rolls
To go with the spring rolls: a tasty Chipotle Dipping Sauce!
Chipotle Sauce
That’s it for savory bites, but they provide a good contrast to all the sweets. Of the two more unique options, the spring rolls were the clear winner.
Savory Bites
There are plenty of beverages to quench your thirst, including milk, water, and unsweetened tea. (Pick up some sugar nearby if you want it.)
Milk, Water, and Unsweetened Tea
There’s coffee — caffeinated and decaf — plus hot water (for tea bags) and hot cocoa.
Hot Water, Coffee, and Hot Cocoa
For a fruity drink, stock up on POG juice (passion, orange, and guava juice combo — AKA Jungle Juice), lemonade, and strawberry lemonade!
POG Juice, Lemonade, and Strawberry Lemonade
And for a real celebratory drink, pick up a Sparkling Apple Cider.
Sparkling Apple Cider
The cost for the After-Fireworks Dessert Party is $69 for adults and $41 for kids and includes unlimited eats and drinks, plus Plaza Garden Viewing for the show. Disney lets party-goers know they can check in up to ninety minutes before Happily Ever After begins, but if you do, you’ll basically be hanging out in the Plaza Garden for a while.
Overall, the After-Fireworks Dessert Party offers a good variety of eats and terrific reserved views from the Hub that don’t require you to stake out a spot far in advance. I expect on nights when both parties are sold out, the crowd in the Plaza Garden Viewing area could be uncomfortably large, so that’s something to consider.
The food was decent — standard Disney dessert party fare. I liked the addition of the savory items; they made a bigger difference to the overall value than expected. But I think the ooey gooey toffee cake was the clincher. So if you’re a fan of that stuff, this party might be worth it for you.
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Have you attended a dessert party at Walt Disney World? Tell us about your experience in the comments!
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Any idea how busy this might get in Sept? We are considering it for our trip (on a monday night) but would like to wait until last minute to see the weather. Also, are busses still available after?
Nicole, generally speaking, buses run until one hour after park closing, so you should be fine to enjoy the party and still catch a bus. 🙂 As for September, it’s widely thought to be a “non-peak” time in the Parks, but that’s a really difficult thing to predict nowadays. Have a fun trip!
Love this article! I booked the Before Fireworks Dessert party with the Plaza Garden viewing for late August! All of the above mentioned foods, including the savoury foods and Toffee Cake, also put out for the Before fireworks party??
I want to know more about the s’mores!!! They roast them?
Desserts look amazing but how many can you eat for $69.
Not worth it. You can see the fireworks from anywhere.
How much is the after party and how do you sign up?
And how much is the before party and how do you sign up?
Trying to decide on which one to go to.
So is the food the same at both parties? I have a reservation for the earlier party and I would like to know if the toffy cake will be there. If not, I’m switching!
This sounds like so much fun! I really like that it’s after the fireworks–let the crowds disperse while having a sweet feast. Even my husband’s sweet tooth would HAVE to be satisfied at this party. We will have to consider it for our October WDW trip aka the Stuff Yourself Silly Once in a Decade Trip.
One question, and perhaps it’s just because I literally haven’t been to WDW in a decade–where is the Plaza Garden?
They have the exact same savory items for the pre-show. Spinach dip and taco rolls and cheese. Only difference I can see from this post is the toffee cake. I love the dessert party and the plaza seating is epic! Definitely think it’s more than decent. Unlimited and a jigsaw variety! With ice cream bar, brownie and cupcake station plus a variety of drinks! I have loved the dessert party!
MissBianca, it’s an open area in front of Plaza Restaurant in the Hub. It’s got some great views of Cinderella Castle! (If you search online for Plaza Garden Disney World, you will find some images of it!) And your trip sounds awesome!
From what we’re hearing, the Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake is not at the First-Seating Dessert Party. But that could change at some point.
Debbie, everything you need to know is on (or linked from) this page on DisneyWorld.com!
Jamie, from what we’ve heard (and experienced), the Toffee Cake is not served at the First-Seating Dessert Party. That said, these things do change without notice, so who knows for the future!
Ren, it’s pretty neat! The marshmallows are on long skewers, and a cast member turns yours over a low flame to toast it (the kind of fire warmer that’s often used on buffets). Then it’s immediately rolled in the chocolate shavings/sprinkles and the graham crackers. It’s so fun!
Do you have any idea if they are making accommodations for dairy allergies? My will be 18yo daughter was recently diagnosed with dairy intolerance and this is the one thing she wanted to do to celebrate her birthday.
Gina, reach out to Walt Disney World Special Diets to ask them about accommodations. As a general rule, Disney will try to accommodate as much as possible.
Weird question: is there beef in the taco spring rolls? I’m vegetarian
Chloe: yes.
Hi AJ!
Once in the plaza garden viewing (if attending the after dessert party), do you know if you are able to leave and come back (for example to use the restroom if needed)? And did you think they were replenishing food for the after party just as much as for the before, or did you feel gipped? Lastly, how long did the party run for; were you rushed at all for the after party? Thank you!
Tiffany, when you check in for the Dessert Party, you’ll get a wristband that indicates you’re attending, so you can come and go as often as you’d like from the viewing area (and the party itself). Food was in abundant supply during the after party, and AJ tells me she didn’t feel rushed at all. Have fun!
Do you know how this will work in the winter months (January) when the park closes right after fireworks? how long are you aloud to stay and enjoy? We loved the regular party we did last year. I would worry about feeling bad for keeping CM’s so late as well as worrying about bus back to the resort, but also want to get our money worth. Love the idea of enjoying the buffet while everyone else waits for buses with huge lines 🙂
Carrie, as a general rule, the buses run an hour after park closing, so we would expect that to be your timeframe.
How well can children and short adults see from the Plaza Garden viewing area? We did the Tomorrowland Terrace seating area last year and it was wonderful.!!! Going with a larger group this time and trying a more economical approach maybe.
Jayne, typically the view is decent from the Plaza Garden Viewing. Shorter guests might miss some of the bottom half of the projections, but otherwise, it’s a great view. You might try an internet search of images of the viewing area to get a clearer idea of the line-of-sight. Have a wonderful trip!